It’s been a baseball season that has slowly built momentum, from the early rebuilding process, to the finding-themselves stage, to the late-season run to a league title, to finally a celebratory peak in the playoffs.

Chatsworth High and its ace pitcher Trevor Takeyama are again kings of City Section baseball after defeating Narbonne of Harbor City 7-2 in the City Championship on a warm Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Takeyama (14-1), a right-hander with pin-point control and an impressive array of off-speed pitches, won his third consecutive playoff game, holding Narbonne to two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven.

“I feel great. We’ve come really far and grown tremendously to the point where we were really competitive today,” Takeyama said. “This was just a good team effort. I could not have done it without my defense. They made a lot of great plays, not just today but all season.”

Chatsworth (29-5) has won two City titles in a row and a City-record eight overall, including six over the past 10 years.

Narbonne (27-7) rallied to score a first-inning run, but the damage was minimalized by a couple of over-aggressive base-running mistakes, as Chatsworth shortstop Kasey Toven threw two runners out of the plate.

“In the past, Narbonne has always been aggressive on the base paths, so I thought those plays at the plate were a big part of the game,” Toven said. “It gave our team momentum. I actually had a vision about this game, so I wasn’t surprised.

And Trevor is one of the best pitchers in the City. He works as hard as anyone. I’m just on top of the world right now. I can’t explain it. Nothing can replace this feeling.”

Nick Russo pitched the final two innings in relief and hit a two-run double in top of the ninth Friday to help carry Simi Valley High to a 4-1 nine-inning victory over Long Beach Wilson in the Southern Section Div. I championship at Dodger Stadium.

“This is unbelievable, but I expected us to be here,” Russo said.

Long Beach Wilson’s star pitcher Aaron Hicks kept Simi Valley in check for most of the evening, limiting the Pioneers to two singles and an unearned run while striking out eight through eight-plus innings.

But when Hicks hit a batter and allowed a walk to begin the top of the ninth, he was replaced by Ray Hanson, and Simi Valley (25-8) rallied for three runs, breaking the tie when Brett Hale scored from third on a botched squeeze combined with a throwing error by catcher Tanner Perkins.

With a runner on first, Russo (9-2) got Perkins on a ground out to second to end the game.

Hicks was the one with all the credentials, a star pitcher who throws 97 mph and is a top Major League prospect.

But Simi Valley’s unheralded right-hander Drew Sandler, better known for his catching and hitter, matched Hicks pitch for pitch for most of the night.

Through 7 innings, the score was tied 1-1, with Hicks holding Simi Valley to two hits and an unearned run while striking out eight, and Sandler limiting Long Beach Wilson to one run on four hits while striking out two.

“I was just trying to throw hard and throw strikes,” Sandler said. “This is a dream come true. We wanted this and we got it. We were destined to win. I don’t know what else to say.”

Sandler was clutch in the bottom of the seventh, when Long Beach Wilson (28-6-1) threatened but could not break the tie. Cody Harris led off with a single to left, stole second and moved to third on pinch-hitter Chris Hubbard’s sacrifice. But Alec Rosales bouncer to second couldn’t move the runner, then Sander stuck out Ryan Endres looking on a 2-2 fastball, as Simi Valley’s erupted in jubilation.

“Drew is a great pitcher. We had faith in him,” Russo said.

Simi Valley coach Matt La Belle was hoarse and emotional afterward.

“This team is unbelievable. They just have so much heart,” La Belle said. “I don’t know what else to say.”

If the Simi Valley Pioneers are intimidated about the prospect of facing fireballing pitcher Aaron Hicks of Long Beach Wilson tonight in the Div. I championship at Dodger Stadium, they aren’t showing it.

“We’re feeling good and loose. I like the vibe, the feeling,” coach Matt La Belle was saying just a moment ago as the teams were warming up. “They’re confident but not overconfident.”

Nevertheless, La Belle has been around long enough to know that if Hicks — who is 8-1 and throws 97 mph — has his best stuff, Simi Valley could be in for an uphill climb.

“We just need to have a good approach and make him prove he can throw his curveball for strikes,” La Belle said. “If he’s throwing hard and his curveball is going over, too, then we could be in trouble. But so would anybody.”

Drew Sandler (6-3) takes the mound for Simi Valley. First pitch at 7:30 p.m. Should be a good one.

After sitting out last game because of a concussion, there was no way Trevor Gee was going to miss the Southern Section Div. III baseball championship.

“If I wouldn’t have been cleared, I would have gone ballistic,” Gee said.

At the last minute, it was decided Gee would play after a doctor gave him an OK, and Gee was keen to take advantage.

Down by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Gee came through with the key hit, an RBI single combined with an outfield error that scored two runs and greased the way for Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks’ 4-2 victory Thursday over South Hills of West Covina at Dodger Stadium.

Gee scored the go-ahead run on Nik Rodarte’s sacrifice fly. He also played sparkling defense at third base with three assists and a putout, fielding Tyler Buffington’s grounder and nailing him at first for the final out in the seventh that set off a mob celebration, as Notre Dame (27-4) won its first baseball title in the school’s 60-year history.

“I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say,” Gee said. “I’m just very grateful. I definitely had some extra adrenaline pumping today.”

Rodarte (11-1) pitched six-plus innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout. He was no unhittable, but Rodarte was able to bare down when he had to, as South Hills (23-6) stranded 10 runners, six in scoring position.

“I’ve never felt better in my life,” Rodarte said. “This has been a dream of mine ever since I put on a Notre Dame uniform.”

It took a while for Notre Dame to come to life, but Rodarte did not panic, patiently awaiting a rally, as the Knights continued a season-long trend of coming from behind in the late innings.

“To tell you the truth, I never doubted us because we’ve been doing this all year,” Rodarte said. “We’ve got a lot of clutch players. Trevor Gee is a real gamer. I knew he would come back today.”

Notre Dame coach Tom Dill depended on Rodarte and Gee, his most experienced players, and they did not let him down.

“We got word late last night that Trevor was cleared, but I really wasn’t sure about it until I hit some ground balls to him today and he seemed 100 percent,” Dill said. “He might have wanted to play and his doctor might have wanted him to play, but not until we saw he was 100 percent.
“Obviously, it was great to have him back. He’s a four-year all-league player, and he and Nik are the backbone of the team. It’s been like that all year.”

Through the years, Notre Dame has established itself as one of the San Fernando Valley’s top sports schools, winning titles in football, boys’ basketball and track, but never baseball until Thursday.

“Hey, you’ve got to get the first one some time,” Dill said. “I like being here. This is my 17th year, and it’s been worth it.”

Notre Dame rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth, pulling ahead 3-2 over South Hills in the D3 championship at Dodger Stadium.

Two runs scored on RBI single by Trevor Gee — who has returned after missing one game because of a concussion — combined with a two-base outfield error when the Gee’s bouncing liner wasn’t fielded cleanly. Then Gee scored on Nik Rodarte’s sac fly.

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